(HIB) – It’s hard to believe that at one time, Americans watched television by huddling around a small box with poor picture quality and sound. Even nicer televisions were tucked in the corner of living rooms where noise from the kitchen, kids running around the house and other distractions constantly interfered.

How we watch television and movies at home has greatly changed in the past decade. Today’s consumer-grade audiovisual technology is a full-body, multi-sensory experience. The sound, visuals and comfortable seating achieved in home theaters rival, and sometimes exceed, that of movie theaters.

Media rooms are no longer the luxury of the wealthy. They have become a standard in many middle class households throughout the country, and are on the top of the list for many people remodeling their homes. Today, the media room has become a multipurpose space where families can watch a movie together, kids can play their video games or friends can congregate to watch the big game.

Whatever your interest, a newly renovated media room can provide the right space for your gathering. But to achieve the ultimate experience, there’s more than just the latest digital gadgets and comfy seating to consider. To design the proper media room, TV personality and award-winning interior designer Anitra Mecadon offers the following tips.

Start at the studs.You’ll probably spend the majority of your time deciding what kind of screen and speaker components to install, but no matter how cutting edge your audiovisual equipment is, you have to properly house it in order to realize its full potential. For this, your media room needs the right walls. Just like Ultra High Definition (UHD) technology represents how far televisions have come, PURPLE SoundBreak XP drywall made by National Gypsum represents how far drywall technology has advanced. This revolutionary drywall reduces the noise heard between rooms. This means you won’t be disturbed by the dishwasher or washing machine while watching your favorite movies. And likewise, people in other rooms won’t hear those powerful speakers!

Hire an expert.Even if you’re savvy with electronics and have set up speakers and receivers in the past, play it safe and hire an expert to properly install all the components in your media room. You might need more powerful circuits installed, or an expert’s touch to perfectly balance and sync the sound between your television, speaker and receiver. Plus, they’ll know how to conceal wires and give your room that clean look.

Protect your investment.Many media rooms are in a basement where mold and moisture are a constant threat. The space needs to remain dry to provide a healthy environment. To keep your family and valuable electronics safe, it’s a wise idea to put up drywall that can actively guard against these dangers. PURPLE XP drywall made by National Gypsum is mold and moisture resistant, providing added protection for your investment.

Buy a television.Because you want more of a movie theater feel, you may be tempted to buy a projector and a screen. But most people who do this end up replacing it with a television. Why? A high resolution smart TV ultimately provides more clarity, better picture and 3D.

Make sure you have the right lighting.From color-changing LED lightbulbs to dimmers on sound bars, there is no end to how creative you can get with the lighting in your media room. No matter what you do, be sure you can control the light in order to accommodate a variety of situations: dark for the dramatic scenes and just enough light for when the pizza arrives.

To really achieve the full effect that a modern media room can offer, tear down the walls and start at the studs. The right drywall is as important as the right speaker. To learn more, visit www.askforpurple.com today!